Ricky Lee Greenwood wiped tears from him eyes as he talked about growing up fatherless in North Portland. He wanted to be a dad who would “stick around” for his kids, he said.

But Tuesday morning, he found himself apologizing to his family, including a son with medical needs and a daughter. The 32-year-old was sentenced to three years and four months in prison for wire fraud, false fictitious or fraudulent claims against the government, and one count of aggravated identity theft.

“I’m very, very regretful for what I’ve done,” he told U.S. District Judge Garr King. “I feel like I’ve let my family down. ... Just knowing I won’t be there to help support them.”

Greenwood pleaded guilty in the fall to the three charges as part of an agreement with prosecutors. Greenwood submitted 66 false tax returns in a three-year-period that netted him $296,106, said Justice Department Trial Attorney Leslie Goemaat. As part of his sentence, Greenwood must repay that amount to the Internal Revenue Service.

Goemaat said Greenwood preyed on low-income people not familiar with the tax-filing process. He persuaded them to allow him to file their tax returns under their names and Social Security numbers, and in return he gave them $500, she said.

He then electronically filed returns that included falsified income information and claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit, according to court filings. Each return sought a refund in the approximate range of $4,000 to $4,500 which was deposited into bank accounts he controlled or issued in the form of prepaid debit cards according to the filings.

He was arrested early last year.

Goemaat argued that Greenwood should be sentenced to four years and nine months as a deterrent to others. She noted that people throughout the nation are engaging in similar scams.

“This crime is spreading like wildfire,” she said.

Goemaat also said the government isn’t the only victim. He targeted people who may face complications from lower credit ratings to future issues with the IRS as a result of the false tax returns.

Greenwood’s attorney, Renee Manes, countered that tax fraud cases are sentenced so differently that any message of deterrence is lost among the public.

She added that Greenwood immediately admitted his conduct and cooperated with authorities. He has gotten a job and has complied with all the terms of the agreement that allows him to remain out of jail pending sentencing, she said.

She emphasized the need to consider rehabilitation and how he can contribute to society after his sentence. She recalled telling him early on that he works too hard to “earn your money skirting along the edges of society” and that if he applied that effort to legitimate ventures “he could be incredibly successful.”

King noted the importance of sending a message but also said he was taking Greenwood’s positive behavior into account. In addition to the prison term and the restitution, King ordered Greenwood to three years of supervised release after he serves his term.